Jerry Lewis (born, according to most sources, as Joseph Levitch, though Shawn Levy's biography, "King of Comedy", claims this is untrue and that Lewis' name at birth was Jerome Levitch) on March 16, 1926), is an American comedian, actor, film producer, writer and director known for his slapstick humor and his charity fund-raising telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Lewis was originally paired up in 1946 with Dean Martin, and formed the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. Aside from popular nightclub work, they starred in an extremely successful series of comedy films for Paramount Pictures. The team broke up ten years later (to the day) on reportedly bad terms.
Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuoso technique, power, speed and ability to improvise.
He was born to Jewish parents in Brooklyn, New York on September 30, 1917. It was his father who initially realized Buddy's talent for rhythm, when Buddy could keep a steady beat with spoons at the age of one. He began playing drums in vaudeville when he was 18 months old, billed as "Traps the Drum Wonder". At the peak of Rich's childhood career, he was the second-highest paid child entertainer in the world. At 11 he was performing as a bandleader. He received no formal drum instruction and, in fact, denounced all instruction, believing it would actually degrade his gift for music. He also never admitted engaging in practising drums, stating that all the practice he needed was derived by his performances. Though he was considered among the most original and creative drummers with few peers, he has been quoted as expressing great admiration for and drawing influence from the playing of Chick Webb, Gene Krupa, and Jo Jones, among a few others.
Buddy Rich performingIn 1937 he entered jazz with Joe Marsala's group, then
played with Bunny Berigan (1938), Artie Shaw (1939), Tommy Dorsey (1939–1942,
1945, 1954–1955), Benny Carter (1942), Harry James (1953–1956),
Les Brown, Charlie Ventura, and Jazz at the Philharmonic, as well as leading
his own band and performing with all-star groups. For most of the period from
1966 until his death, he led a successful big band in an era when the popularity
of big bands had waned from its peak in the 1930s and 40s. His most popular
performance was a big band arrangement of the Leonard Bernstein classic West
Side Story. Though Buddy was typically a helpful and friendly man, he was
also known to have a short temper. In many instances, he took advantage of
the fact he was so highly respected. He threatened to fire band members many
times. However, he rarely actually did.
Buddy Rich died April 2, 1987 at the age of 69. Reportedly, prior to heart surgery, when asked by a nurse if he was allergic to anything he replied, "Yes ... country music!" He is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
